While I didn't play FF8 yet I can see why that would be the case.
I finished FF7 last year and while I did enjoy my time with it it's clear how much of a prototype, for lack of a better word, it is as far as 3D JRPGs are concerned. There's a lot of ambition there but also a feeling they weren't able (or ready) to pull all of it off at the time.
It didn't end up among my favorites and titles I tend to replay semi-regularly but I'm glad I got to play it in its original form.
I think the two main points would be already mentioned regular "what are you playing" posts and just writing yourelf whenever you have a chance. I think that livier communities encourage engagement while "dead" ones make people less willing to participate as that means they'll more likely to become the center of attention and not everyone is comfortable with that.
Personally, I've been meaning to write some posts about the stuff I played recently but just didn't have time to do so. Maybe this week...
I'm tend to jump between multiple games, depending on how I feel at the time.
Right now the main titles are: Cities Skylines, DMC5 and Pokemon Crystal. Secondary ones: Tetris DX and Puzzle Quest.
Finally there's Reverse Collapse but that's a new title so doesn't really fit this community.